Ayya Vaikundar (c.1833 –c.1851) ( ta, அய்யா வைகுண்டர், sa, अय्या वैघुण्ढर्) also known as Vaikunda Swami is the first and the foremost
Purna avatar of
Eka-Paran born to
Lord Narayana
Narayana (Sanskrit: नारायण, IAST: ''Nārāyaṇa'') is one of the forms and names of Vishnu, who is in yogic slumber under the celestial waters, referring to the masculine principle. He is also known as Purushottama, and is consi ...
and his consort
Goddess Lakshmi
Lakshmi (; , sometimes spelled Laxmi, ), also known as Shri (, ), is one of the principal goddesses in Hinduism. She is the goddess of wealth, fortune, power, beauty, fertility and prosperity, and associated with '' Maya'' ("Illusion"). A ...
at the Sea of
Tiruchendur
Tiruchendur is a municipality located in Thoothukudi District, Tamil Nadu, India. It is home to the Arulmigu Subramaniya Swamy Temple, which is one of the Six Abodes of Murugan.
Etymology
Tiruchendur, a temple town like many towns in the s ...
on the 20th of
Masi, 1008
K.E (1 March 1833
CE). Embodied with the
triune God-heads along with all lesser
devas
Devas may refer to:
* Devas Club, a club in south London
* Anthony Devas (1911–1958), British portrait painter
* Charles Stanton Devas (1848–1906), political economist
* Jocelyn Devas (died 1886), founder of the Devas Club
* Devas (band), ...
, Lord Narayana assumes his ninth incarnation at the sea-shore of Tiruchendur just before the birth of Ayya Vaikundar. It was this
Avatar
Avatar (, ; ), is a concept within Hinduism that in Sanskrit literally means "descent". It signifies the material appearance or incarnation of a powerful deity, goddess or spirit on Earth. The relative verb to "alight, to make one's appearanc ...
of Lord Narayana whom give birth to Ayya Vaikundar later, and all these events are part of his grand and systematic framework for the destruction of
Kali
Kali (; sa, काली, ), also referred to as Mahakali, Bhadrakali, and Kalika ( sa, कालिका), is a Hinduism, Hindu goddess who is considered to be the goddess of ultimate power, time, destruction and change in Shaktism. In t ...
. Earlier, as the time for the destruction of Kali approaches, Goddess Lakshmi, who includes all Devis (feminine forms of Devas) of the divine cosmos into herself, was sent to Sea of Tiruchendur to grow as a giant golden fish called
Makara
''Makara'' ( sa, मकर, translit=Makara) is a legendary sea-creature in Hindu mythology. In Hindu astrology, Makara is equivalent to the Zodiac sign Capricorn.
Makara appears as the vahana (vehicle) of the river goddess Ganga, Narmada, a ...
. It was from her womb the Infant Ayya Vaikundar was born to Lord Narayana and the
Vinchai
In the literature of Hinduism, Vinchai are proclamations and instructions to the newly born child Vaikundar, by his father Lord Narayana, also known as Vishnu, one of the three godheads in Akilathirattu Ammanai, the source of Ayyavazhi mythology. ...
was granted to him immediately after his birth.
The mission of the Destruction of Kali involves a joint role of Lord Narayana and Ayya Vaikundar. While the prime obligation of Lord Narayana is to annihilate
Kali
Kali (; sa, काली, ), also referred to as Mahakali, Bhadrakali, and Kalika ( sa, कालिका), is a Hinduism, Hindu goddess who is considered to be the goddess of ultimate power, time, destruction and change in Shaktism. In t ...
, the role of Ayya Vaikundar is to prepare the world for the
Dharma Yukam
Dharma Yukam is the state of absolute bliss as per Ayyavazhi mythology. Dharma Yukam is described in the Akilam seventeen in Akilathirattu Ammanai. It is related to Dharmic moksha and to Abrahamic heaven.
Vaikundar on throne
As soon as Vai ...
. Literally, Ayya Vaikundar acts as the subtle medium on whom Lord Narayana had based his platform in the
Kaliyuga
''Kali Yuga'', in Hinduism, is the fourth and worst of the four '' yugas'' (world ages) in a ''Yuga Cycle'', preceded by '' Dvapara Yuga'' and followed by the next cycle's '' Krita (Satya) Yuga''. It is believed to be the present age, which i ...
to destroy Kali, the foremost evil of the 7 yugas. Since Ayya Vaikundar is born after the severe
Tapas
A tapa () is an appetizer or snack in Spanish cuisine. Tapas can be combined to make a full meal, and can be cold (such as mixed olives and cheese) or hot (such as ''chopitos'', which are battered, fried baby squid, or patatas bravas). In so ...
of Trimurthi and all other lesser other Devas including the 33 clans of devas and 44 clans of deva-
rishi
''Rishi'' () is a term for an accomplished and enlightened person. They find mentions in various Vedic texts. Rishis are believed to have composed hymns of the Vedas. The Post-Vedic tradition of Hinduism regards the rishis as "great yogis" or ...
s of
Seven Logas, Ayya Vaikundar is the supreme God on his own. He is the central character of Kaliyuga as in the narratives and teaching of
Akilathirattu Ammanai
Akilathirattu Ammanai ( ta, அகிலத்திரட்டு அம்மானை; ''akilam'' ("world"), ''thirattu'' ("collection"), ''ammanai'' ("ballad")), also called Thiru Edu ("venerable book"), is the main religious text of the T ...
.
On the other hand, Ayya Vaikundar is an
actual Historical figure and most of the preachings and activities found in Akilam and other texts about the life of Ayya Vaikundar was documented historically and detailed in
critical contemporary sources externally as well. Though the prime features of Ayya Vaikundar’s mission is revealed through Akilathirattu, he also teaches orally. His oral teaching are compiled in the Books of ''Pathiram'', ''Sivakanta Athikara Pathiram'' and ''Thingal Patham''. Though Akilam is directly against creating any form of organised religion or belief, the teachings of Akilam and especially few books of
Arul Nool
Arul may refer to:
People Given name
* Arul Chinnaiyan
* Arul Kanda Kandasamy
* Arul Kumar Jambunathan, Malaysian politician
* Arul Pragasam
* Arul Ramadas, Indian politician
* Arul Shankar, Indian mathematician
* Arul Suppiah (born 1983), M ...
forms the basis of
Ayyavazhi belief. The incarnational date of Ayya Vaikundar is celebrated as
Ayya Vaikunda Avataram
The Ayya Vaikunda Avataram or Vaikunda Jayanthi (Tamil language, Tamil: அய்யா வைகுண்ட அவதாரம் or வைகுண்ட ஜெயந்தி - ''Incarnation of Lord Vaikundar'') is a festival celebrated by the ...
on the 20th of Masi as per the Tamil Calender (3 or 4 March C.E) and is observed to this date.
Early life
In 1809, Ayya Vaikundar was born as Mudisoodum Perumal (lit. "Vishnu with a crown") to Ponnu Madan and Veyilal Amma in at
Poovandanthope in the
Kanyakumari
Kanniyakumari (; , referring to Devi Kanya Kumari), also known as Cape Comorin, is a city in Kanniyakumari district in the state of Tamil Nadu, India. It is the southern tip of the Indian subcontinent and the southernmost city in mainland Ind ...
District (part of Travancore then). The boy was also known as Muthukutty.
The religious book,
Akilam
Akilathirattu Ammanai ( ta, அகிலத்திரட்டு அம்மானை; ''akilam'' ("world"), ''thirattu'' ("collection"), ''ammanai'' ("ballad")), also called Thiru Edu ("venerable book"), is the main religious text of the T ...
of
Ayyavazhi mythology
Ayyavazhi mythology is the mythology of the South Indian Hindu denomination religious faith known as Ayyavazhi, which is officially considered a Hindu sect. The main source of Ayyavazhi mythology is the Ayyavazhi scripture, Akilathirattu Amm ...
mentions that the child was still-born, and then the soul of the
deva
Deva may refer to:
Entertainment
* ''Deva'' (1989 film), a 1989 Kannada film
* ''Deva'' (1995 film), a 1995 Tamil film
* ''Deva'' (2002 film), a 2002 Bengali film
* Deva (2007 Telugu film)
* ''Deva'' (2017 film), a 2017 Marathi film
* Deva ...
Sampooranathevan was placed in the body.
Muthukutty, a religious boy, had special interest in the worship of the
Hindu god
Hindu deities are the gods and goddesses in Hinduism. The terms and epithets for deities within the diverse traditions of Hinduism vary, and include Deva, Devi, Ishvara, Ishvari, Bhagavān and Bhagavati.
The deities of Hinduism have evolved ...
Vishnu
Vishnu ( ; , ), also known as Narayana and Hari, is one of the principal deities of Hinduism. He is the supreme being within Vaishnavism, one of the major traditions within contemporary Hinduism.
Vishnu is known as "The Preserver" within t ...
(Narayana). The holy book ''Akilam'' mentions that he had set a pedestal for Vishnu in his house and worshipped the deity devoutly. At the age of seventeen, Muthukutty married
Thirumalammal from the nearby village of
Puviyur
Pooviyoor is a hamlet near Swamithope in the Kanyakumari district of Tamil Nadu
Tamil Nadu (; , TN) is a state in southern India. It is the tenth largest Indian state by area and the sixth largest by population. Its capital and larges ...
, and started a family with her. However, some believe that they were not married at all, but that, she had come to live with him only to serve him during his public activities. Thirumalammal had been previously married, but left her former husband to marry Muthukutty. According to quotes found in ''Akilam'', they had a male child, who was sired by her first husband. Muthukutty earned his living as a
Palmyra palm
''Borassus'' (palmyra palm) is a genus of five species of fan palms, native to tropical regions of Africa, Asia and Papua New Guinea.
Description
These massive palms can grow up to high and have robust trunks with distinct leaf scars; in so ...
climber and as an agricultural laborer.
In his twenty-fourth year, Muthukutty was struck by a severe illness and suffered for a year. His mother Veyilal Amma took her sick son to the temple at
Thiruchendur
Tiruchendur is a municipality located in Thoothukudi District, Tamil Nadu, India. It is home to the Arulmigu Subramaniya Swamy Temple, which is one of the Six Abodes of Murugan.
Etymology
Tiruchendur, a temple town like many towns in the st ...
, during a festival. There, Muthukutty went into the sea and disappeared. According to legends in the ''
Akilathirattu Ammanai
Akilathirattu Ammanai ( ta, அகிலத்திரட்டு அம்மானை; ''akilam'' ("world"), ''thirattu'' ("collection"), ''ammanai'' ("ballad")), also called Thiru Edu ("venerable book"), is the main religious text of the T ...
'', on the third day (March 4, 1833), he appeared transforming into Ayya Vaikundar from Sampooranathevan and declared to Veyilal Amma that he was no longer her son, but the son of Narayana. Then he started walking towards
Detchanam. This place became a holy place for the devotees of Ayyavazhi and they erected a temple there named
Avatharappathi at Thiruchendur. This event is celebrated during the festival of
Ayya vaikundar avataram, on 20th of the
Tamil Month of Masi.
Penance and growing following
Upon reaching Poovantanthoppu, (present-day
Swamithopu), he undertook a penance. The penance consisted of three stages, each spanning two years. A tradition describes his postures during the six-year tavam as follows: during the first two years, he stood inside a six feet deep pit; during the next two years, he squatted on the ground; and during the last two years, he sat on a raised platform. His appearance was squalid, "long and entangled plait of hair" and frayed clothes. He spoke less and subsisted on frugal meals.
The ''Akilam'' speaks of the act of incinerating the evil spirits as an important event in the life of Ayya Vaikundar. It took place when he was performing his penance, which had been announced by him to be the means of destroying the
kalimayai - the illusory evil force. He, then, gathered the people around, and caused some of them to get possessed of the evil spirits (peyattam). The possessed ones came and danced in front of the crowd as if the evil spirits had come upon them. Vaikundar, then, ordered these evil spirits to make an oath, in front of the people, to surrender their powers and get burned up in flames. When he had finished his orders, those dancing under the duress of possession got exhausted and fell flat on the ground. Thus the evil spirits were incinerated.
Vaikundar performed another action to 'seize the esoteric evil powers'. The ''Akilam'' says that, he took away the powers of those who knew to perform witchcraft, sorcery, and other magical rituals. People living in the hills, called as Kanikkarar, were believed to be powerful shamans or witchdoctors, having powers to contain or to provoke the demons. Vaikundar, in a trance, made some of these Kanikkarar to testify in front of the people that they had surrendered their powers. People grew appreciative of Vaikundar's actions. They began addressing him as Vaikuntacami. This implied an attribution of divinity to Vaikundar.
[G.Ptrick's, Religion and Subaltern Agency, Chapter 4, Page 80]![Ayya's Holy Perambu and Surai koodu](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/f/f4/Ayya%27s_Holy_Perambu_and_Surai_koodu.jpg)
The fame of Vaikundar had begun to spread in the countries of
Travancore
The Kingdom of Travancore ( /ˈtrævənkɔːr/), also known as the Kingdom of Thiruvithamkoor, was an Indian kingdom from c. 1729 until 1949. It was ruled by the Travancore Royal Family from Padmanabhapuram, and later Thiruvananthapuram. At ...
and
Tirunelveli
Tirunelveli (, ta, திருநெல்வேலி, translit=Tirunelveli) also known as Nellai ( ta, நெல்லை, translit=Nellai) and historically (during British rule) as Tinnevelly, is a major city in the Indian state of Tami ...
, and he had been gradually recognised socially as a religious person with extraordinary powers. In the religious parlance of the time, he was addressed as a
Pantaram, a religious person hailing from, and serving the ordinary folk. Akilattirattu addresses him as Pantaram.
People came to him to listen to his teachings and instructions, to be cured by him of different diseases, to witness, worship and serve a religious person. Vaikundar encouraged the people to come together around a well to take a ritual bath, irrespective of caste differences. He encouraged them to dine together in his presence.
He gave out a number of teachings and instructions, the central point of which was that he had come to abolish
Kali Yukam
''Kali Yuga'', in Hinduism, is the fourth and worst of the four ''yugas'' (world ages) in a ''Yuga Cycle'', preceded by ''Dvapara Yuga'' and followed by the next cycle's '' Krita (Satya) Yuga''. It is believed to be the present age, which is ...
, and to usher in an age of
Dharma Yukam
Dharma Yukam is the state of absolute bliss as per Ayyavazhi mythology. Dharma Yukam is described in the Akilam seventeen in Akilathirattu Ammanai. It is related to Dharmic moksha and to Abrahamic heaven.
Vaikundar on throne
As soon as Vai ...
, during the time of which the now-oppressed and suffering people would be liberated and rule the land under his leadership. 'Uplift of the lowly is dharmam’. was a constant refrain in his teachings. People were encouraged to serve as catalysts for the destruction of
Kali
Kali (; sa, काली, ), also referred to as Mahakali, Bhadrakali, and Kalika ( sa, कालिका), is a Hinduism, Hindu goddess who is considered to be the goddess of ultimate power, time, destruction and change in Shaktism. In t ...
by transforming themselves to be 'people of Dharma Yukam' and to acquire a new character. The new character would come upon them, he said, if they learned to live with self-respect, social dignity and fearlessness. Underscoring the importance of self-respect and social dignity, he said, ‘if one lives with dignity and self-respect, the kali would destroy itself’. He said when people grew out of
kalimayai, Dharma Yukam would unfold itself and in that age, he would rule over the people as
Dharma Raja
Dharma Raja Karthika Thirunal Rama Varma ( ml, ധർമ്മരാജാ കാർത്തിക തിരുനാൾ രാമവർമ്മ, 1724–17 February 1798) was the Maharajah of Travancore from 1758 until his death in 1798. He s ...
, the king of Dharma Yukam.
Arrest and post-imprisonment
Vaikundar made some controversial statements like mentioning the
Travancore
The Kingdom of Travancore ( /ˈtrævənkɔːr/), also known as the Kingdom of Thiruvithamkoor, was an Indian kingdom from c. 1729 until 1949. It was ruled by the Travancore Royal Family from Padmanabhapuram, and later Thiruvananthapuram. At ...
king as ‘Devil in Ananthapuri’ and the British rule as ‘Rule of White Devils’. Against the background of the growing popularity of Ayya Vaikundar and the convergence of people around him in multitudes, a complaint was lodged against him with the
King of Travancore Swathi Thirunal Rama Varma . The King arrested Ayya Vaikundar in 1838 and imprisoned him at
Singarathoppe jail. After 110 days of imprisonment, on 26 March 1839 he was released by Swathithirunal on the advise of Thycaud Ayya who was the Guru of Swathi thirunal Maharaj and a disciple of Ayya Vaikundar as well.
After returning from the prison, Ayya Vaikundar inspired a group of his devotees to undertake a religious exercise called
Thuvayal Thavasu
{{Ayyavazhi
Thuvayal Thavasu, literally washing penance, was a significant religious event that took place in the 19th century. It was also called as thuvayal panthi. (panthi means an arrangement of people in a row for meals during feasts). By t ...
. He also performed miracles. He married
Saptha Kanniyar
Matrikas (Sanskrit: मातृका (singular), IAST: mātṝkās, lit. "divine mothers") also called Matar or Matri, are a group of mother goddesses who are always depicted together in Hinduism. The Matrikas are often depicted in a group ...
as Narayana (see:
Marriage with the Seven Virgins), the seven deities in the form of
Ekam
Ekam is the Sanskrit for "one, single, solitary" (neuter gender), as a noun meaning "unity".
⠀⠀Ayyavazhi⠀⠀ and ⠀⠀Hinduism⠀⠀refers to a monism conceptAyyavazhi and Hinduism, it refers to a concept of monism akin to that of Brahman ...
(see:
Marriage with the Deities). He initiated festivities (see:
Festivals and Celebrations). The deities were made to 'come upon' some of the female devotees who became their human media and a marriage ceremony was performed. Ceremonial processions were held amidst singing, incantations and shouts of joy by the followers. Several rites and rituals were instituted during these occasions.
Death and Legacy
Later Vaikundar was invited by his devotees to their homes and treated in a grand manner. By way of soliciting his blessings, his devotees carried him to different places. During these occasions, he laid foundations in various places for small shrine-like centres, called
Nizhal Thangal
Nizhal Thangal ( ta, நிழல் தாங்கல்) ( ml, നിഴൽ താങ്കൽ) also called Inai Thangals) are secondary worship places of the Ayyavazhi, often smaller in size than Pathis, built per the instructions of Akilatti ...
s. Vaikundar came to recognize five individuals as his closest disciples. Through one of his disciples,
Hari Gopalan Citar
According to Akilattirattu Ammanai, the scripture of the Ayyavazhi religion, Ayya Vaikundar, the Incarnation of Lord Narayana in Kali Yukam, has five Seedar (disciples). They were in the previous Dwapara Yukam as Pandavas who were transmigrate ...
, he wrote the holy book, called
''Akilam''.
Vaikundar died on 3 June 1851. According to Ayyavazhi followers, he has returned to his celestial abode
Vaikundam
Vaikuntha ( sa, वैकुण्ठ, lit=without anxiety, translit=Vaikuṇṭha), also called Vishnuloka (), and Tirunatu (Tirunāṭu) in Tamil language, Tamil, is the abode of Vishnu, the Brahman, supreme deity in the Vaishnavism, Vaishnava ...
. However, this date is disputed, as Samuel Mateer mentions the year as 1848.
His body was interned in a tomb and a pati (temple) was built around the same later. His devotees continued to visit this site, and performed the rituals as they used to do when Vaikundar was bodily present. His life and works remain the foundation of the Ayyavazhi. The head temple of the
Ayyavazhi religion is the
Swamithoppepathi and is located in the Village of
Swamithope.
Popular culture
The film ''Ayyavazhi'' released in 2008 was based on the life of Ayya Vaikundar. The film ''Oru Kudaikul'' (2021) also featured the tale of Ayya Vaikundar.
References
2. Benjamín Preciado-Solís (1984). The Kṛṣṇa Cycle in the Purāṇas: Themes and Motifs in a Heroic Saga. Motilal Banarsidass. p. 40. ., Quote: "Within a period of four or five centuries
round the start of the common era we encounter our major sources of information, all in different versions. The Mahabharata, the Harivamsa, the Visnu Purana, the Ghata Jataka, and the Bala Carita all appear between the first and the fifth century AD, and each of them represents a tradition of a Krsna cycle different from the others".
3. Edward Geoffrey Parrinder (1997). Avatar and Incarnation: The Divine in Human Form in the World's Religions. Oxford: Oneworld. pp. 19–24, 35–38, 75–78, 130–133. .
4. D. Muthu Prakash (2021), LIFE STORY OF CREATOR AND PROTECTOR OF UNIVERSE LORD MAHA VISHNU’S INCARNATE Ayya Vaikundar, IASF Publications, Chennai
Sources
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*"Holy Akilathirattu", R. Hari Gopalan Citar, Thenthamarikualam, 10 December 1841, First Publication 1939
*"Holy Akilathirattu Scripture", R. Gopalakrishnan, Chennai, First Publication 2019, Published by Akilattirattu India Mission
*"Holy Akilathirattu Descriptive Text" Part 2, A. Manibharathi, Chennai, First Publication 2003
*"Holy Akilathirattu Text", T. Balasundaram M.A.,B.Ed. Swamithoppu, Third Publication 2013, Published by Ayya Vaikundar Veeman Citar Foundation
*"Holy Akilathirattu Ammani Recitation Text", A. Arisundra Mani, First Publication 2002
External links
{{DEFAULTSORT:Vaikundar, Ayya
1833 births
1851 deaths
19th-century Indian people
Akilattirattu Ammanai
Ayyavazhi
Shudra Hindu saints
Tamil Hindu saints
Ayyavazhi mythology